Ribbon-inking mechanism for printing-machines.



H W @y j. www@ W M El? ggg/m :1" wl, `f`J brig E N i l Wi l g i??? 1111- 1i a` l@ a* WluulmMnvlM J.S.DUNAN. RIBBON INKING MBOHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

, APPLICATION IILBD AUG. 17, 1908.. 1,031,541. A Patented July 2,1912.

5 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

J.S.DUNCAN. RIBBON INKING MEOHANISM FOB. PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLIOATIQN FILED AUG. I7, 1908.

Patented July 2, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

www

Invezar.

l J.S.YDUNCAN. RIBBON INKING MEGHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLIATION FILED AUG. 17, 190B. 1,031,541 Patented July 2, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. J. S. DUNCAN.

RIBBON INKING MBOHANISM Pon PRINTING MACHINES. APPLIOATION FILED AIG.17, 1908.

1,031,541. PatenteaJuly 2, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Inventar:

Loenen.

' UNITED' STATES IArnixir onni'cia JOSEPH s. ISUNCN', or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon r'fo aDDRnssoGRArH COMPANY,

or CIIIcAeo, ILLINOIS, ax Coaronarioiv or ILLINOIS;

RIBBON-INKING HECHANISM ron I RINgirNGf-ivraoHINEs.`

To all whom it may concern: y Be it known that I, J Osii'rH S. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool( and 'State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements .in Ribbon- Inldng Mechanism for Printing-Machines, of which the following is a Specification. i

rhe object of this invention is to provide a ribbon inliing mechanism for printing inacliiiies and more particularly for addressing machines of the general type illustrated in my former Patents -No. 761.660' dated July 1e, 190i ,md No. 803,677 dated Nov. 7, i905. ln this class of addressing machines, the addresses areI set up in type in suitable holders or produced on plates and fed one' at a' time frein a' magazine to' printing position.

'lhe invention has for its object to ink the address forni with an inking ribbon and to so arrange and feed the ribbon that it will ink the foi-in evenly and Wear uniformly.

A .further object of the invention is to utilize the full width of the ribbon for inking purposes'and to arrange and feed the ribbon so that a fresh part thereof will engage each form :and without being fed the length ott' a form.

' ln the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention` as it may be enibodicd in an addressing machine, Figure l is a plan view showing as muchzof the addressing machine as is necessary vto linderstandthe adaptation and operation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in stction, of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Figs 3 and 4 are detail views showing the' feed mechanism in different positions. Fig. j3 is an elevation at one side of the machine. Fig. (S is a perspective view of one end of the mechanism'. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation -view, partly in section, of the end of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. G. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in tlie draw-ings, the

printing plate' 8 is arranged yin a holder S) and the latter is moved to printing position by a carrier consisting of the endless chains 10. Thesechains are guided in the frame '11 and move the printing devices one at a 'time from a` magazine 'to printing position -above the bed 12. Any suitable means may be provided for operating the chains sucli as the sprocket wheels 13. The sheet 0r en- Specification of Letters` Patent. Application flied August i7, 1908. seriaiN. 448,938.'

Patented J ul5'T 2, 191.2.

velop to be printed is placed uponv a plate 14;, which-may be termed an envelop plate for convenience, which is pivotally mounted at 14 on the carrier frame, and this plate has an openin -l'through which the iin- The ribbon 16 is carried by'two spools 17,

18which are mounted on shafts 17', 18

journaled in suitable bearings in the frames 17" andl8 supported on the main frame 19 on opposite sides of t-he carrier frame 11.

The shafts 17 and. 18f are arranged in parallel relation with each other and in angular relation to the direction of movement of the printing devices t'o printing position,

and the ribbonA is thus4 arranged totpass through printing position diagonally to the' direction of inovementhof the printing de- .vices toprinting position. Thus the ribbon will extend across the printing device in a diagonal directiontoth'e lines of type thereon and as the ribbon is fed transversely to the -direction of movement o-'f the rinting device 4to printing position t-lie eiifec is to e I ed the ribbon sidewise as well as endwise with relation to the position usually occupied. by the ines of' type in the printing device when in printing position. It is to be observed that the address .forms usuallycomprise' several lines 'of type and if the ribbon were fed in the direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the printing device to printing position the result would be that the greater proportion of those parts of the ribbon which engage the type foi-in of one printing device wouldalso engage the type forni of successive printing devices unless the ribbon were fed at each operation a distance equal to the lenUtli of an address form, and in either event there would be the fur'- tliei result that the I'jibbon would only be -used in' Icontinuous paths 'corresponding to the lines of type. But by arranging the ribbon diagonally to the' direction of movement of the printing ,device to printing position the feeding of the ribbon may be so timed and regulated that entirely fresh parts of the ribbon, or substantially so, are-moved to inkng position 'for eacli successive' printing device and this feeding movement of the ribbon is comparatively slight and very much less than the length of an address form. `This arrangement andoperation of the ribbon feeding mechanism also enables the use of substantially the entirewidth ofV the ribbon so that after the ribbon has been fed from one endto the other its entire surface, or practically'so, has been utilized for inking the forms.

The mechanism lfor feeding the ribbon 'comprises ratchet wheels ,20, 21, mounted on the shafts 17', 1 8 and arranged to been- -gaged by pins 20', 21 on dogs: 20"," 21

30 which are pivotally mounted on studs 20 21 carried bya feed bar 22. A lever-23 is pivotally mounted on the frame 17 and it is provided with a. cam surface 23 which is engaged by a roller 24 on an arm 24 on the pedal lever 25' 'which operates the platen (not shown) ofthe machine. A spring is attached at one end to the main frame '19 of the machine .and at itsother end" to the cani lever 23which is suitably engaged with' y20 one end of the feedbar 22 4(Fig. 1). The" cam Alever and thespring reciprocate the vfeed bar. A shifting bar'27 is arrangedalongside the feed bar 22 and is adaptedto be moved `25 endwise. This shifting bar carries -two rcleasing dev'ices for operating the dogs20",

21" and these devices comprisefarms 28, 29

. pivotallv mounted at'.'one end 28', 2 9 onA theshifting bar .and provided at their'other free ends with sockets 28., 29". The rib-- mounted in the ends 32 of the spool. The

core is recessed at 30l to receivejhel wing 31 so that whenthe wing lis-closed .againstthe core it will provide a smooth and even surface on which the ribbon ina-y be wound. evenly. The end of the ribbon is fastenedv to the free end 31 of the wing in a suitable manner (Figs. 0, 7) and the arrangement is such that when the ribbon has been fed oif of one spool the wing 3l will be swung out from the core as shown in Fig. 7. A fingery 33 is n'iounted beyond the spoolA on one pivot stud 33 of the wing 31 and it is arranged to engage. a projection 34 on the adjacentrelease arni 28. This description of the spool; 5o has been directed to the construction of@ spool 17 .which is illustrated in Figs. 6 a'nd- 7 but it will be understood that the spool- 18 is similarly provided with a Wing to which' the other rad ci" the ribbon is attached and a finger 35 is mounted on one pivot stud 35 of the Wing ofspol 18 to engage the projection 30 on release arm 29 (Fig. 1). The

- f release lever 28 has a lng 37 and the release lever y29 ha's a' lug 38, and these lugs are areo ranged fnd adapted to support the dogs 20 and 21'--out-of-operative relationA to the :ratchet wheels-20 and 2l, as hereafter 'lsci'ibecl. i. f .i `T Thenftliewribbon is being'fcd from right to left the. dog 21'. vwill engage and operate the ratchet wheel 2 1 and the dog 20'( will engage the lug 37 and be thereby prevented fromengaging itsratchet Wheel 20 (Fig. 3),.,

W hen the ribbon isbeing fed from left to i.

4right the-dog 20 will operate its ratchet wheel 2O while thedog 21 will be prevented from engaging its ratchet wheel 21 b .thel -lug 38. The feeding movementr is e ected by the platen lever which operate-the cam lever 23 and moves thefeed bar endwise in' 'zoA one direction and by the spring 26 which moves the 4feed barendwise in the'other dii rection 'returning it tonormal position, and it depends entirely upon the position of the shift-ing bar `as to, which of the dogs will opcrate.` In Fig...3 the dog 21Civill engage and operate' the ratclietwheel 21 with each endw'ise movement Vof the feed bar tothe left, and in Fig; 4 the dog 20 will 'engage and operate the vratchet wheel 20 with each endwise'movenient of the feed bar to the right. The endwisc movement of thefeed f bar to the-`left is the result of the direct'v movement o f the cain lever andthe endwisef" ,movement 'ofJthe feed bar to thcrighti's pro` duced by theI spring 26. Assuming'that the ribbon' is t-raveling. from right to left,

referring particularly t0- Figsf' and 7 when` the p ull on tlie'ribbon raises the wing 31,` as shown in Figs. 7, 'the finger 33 will engage" the projection 34 and swing thescketed end 28". .of therelease arm upward in osition to be engaged' by the'l pivot stud'20 1 of the dog 20".',0n themeirtendwiselmovement of the v4feed bari" "It will be observed that the.

lease arm28fand when it is so engagedthe sprin 2G is strong enough to shift thebar 27 en wise and carry the lug 37 away from o lthe dog 20 and.-thelug 38 into position to engage the V dog"21. When the wing-of the i spool 18 is similarly raised thef-bar27 will .be shifted in the'opposite direction to pro-y 'duce a reversal of movement 'of the ribbon.

This-reversal 0fmovement offthe ribbon is thus effected .automatically whenever 'the ribbon is fed entirely o'if of o1ie spool to op:

crate its wing, .1 ,L

when'moved in ,either direction by a roller" 39 which is cai'ried`on an arm 40 pivoted at 40 on-a brackct'-41 seciired to the frame 17". `A block 42`is mounted on the shift1` lthe bracket 41. This block is provided with the arm I holds the'rolleri 39 seated against the bloc on one'ifthe other side o`f the shoulder 43.

The spring 44 will' yield sufficiently to per-Y .mit thefshoulder 43 to ride over tlieroller V A a shoulderl43 and a spring 4 4 is attachedt 40 and'thejbracket and noi-mall 33 the bar 27 'isfshifted but in eitherposition of fthe' bar the roller is"en'gaged .with thefblocldagainst 'thejshoulderg-in aj130f miniserie' prevent` the bar 4from accidenf vtally moving or creeping. A foim 45 may 'be arranged -in an opening46 in the envelop plate 14 and supported in any suitable manner, as for example on'theframe 18.,

' to print a date or other matter alongside of the address.' j

-\ While the .invention is particularly adapted for 'addressin' machines as herein shown and described-it is not limitedto this adapta- -tion and it` may. be used in connection with any other printing-machine'to which it can' be applied.- wWhen the ribbon has'been fed from onel spol to the other it is automatically reversed and the operation may be repeatedas 'long as sufiicient ink remainsV in theiribbon to4 ink the forms.

'What I claim .and desire to secure by Let` ters Patent is:

1. In a printing machine, the combination of a pairof spools, an inkigribbon ar`- ranged to'wind and unwind on saidspools,

means for feeding the spools alternately for winding the ribbon from onetp' the other,A

said 'feeding means comprising a pair, of ratchet wheelsmounted -to turn. with the actuating -said `bar` in one -direcshifting barand` dog-retaining. devices for alternately moving said ,dogs relatively to' the feed barinto released position to reverse thev ribbon winding operation.

`2. In a printing machine, the combination offapair of spools, an inking ribbon ar ranged to-wind -and unwind onsaid'spools,"

means for'fe'edin l the spools alternately to wind the ribbon rom one to the other, said feeding means comprising a pair of ratchet wheelsmounted't turn with the spools, a

reeiproeatory feed bar,a pairof dogs mounted on said feed bar in position to engage said ratchet wheels, and means for' revers; ing the ratchet `feeding-operation, comprising a shifting bar, devices on said'bar for nmiiilain'iiig said` dogs in inoperative position, arms pivoted on saidshifting bar and adapted to be operated from the feed bar,

' :nul means for iposit-ioning said arms tobe air of dogspivot-A actuated bythef'feed. bar to voperatethe shifting bar. f

3. In a printing machine, thecombihation 55 of apair ofA spools, an inking ribbon'ar-i ranged to alternately wind and unwindon said spools, means for feeding the spools to y .wind the ribbon from one to thf3 other, said means comprising a pair of ra hetwheels prising a shifting bar, means carriedby the shifting bar to alternately raise.. thel dogs 4 A out of operative position, a pair of arms `p1 v n oted pn the shifting bar, and a movable part pivoted on eachspool adapted to be actuated by the ribbon, to place said arms in position to be actuated from'the feed bar, ...whereby to throw onedog out of engage- A men-t with the ratchet wheel and permit the other to engage with the ratchet'whel to' wind the ribbon in an opposite' direction.

et. -In a printing machine, the combination of a pair of spools, an inking'ribbon ar.

ranged to'wind and unwind on vsaid spools and extending therebetween through printing posit-ion, means for feeding -the spoolsl 8 alternately to wind the ribbon from one to the other, said means comprising a'pair of 'ratchetgvheels mounted to turn with the spools, a feed bar adapted to be reciprocated, a pair of dogs on said-l feed barto engage the ratchet wheels, one of said dogs being in' A released position whentheother is in o erative position, a pair of studs onsaid eed bar, a shifting bar, arms on said shifting bar pivoted at one end thereto and provided with sockets at their free ends, a movable part' on each spool ,to which the end of the ribbon is attached and which is 'actuated l as the ribbon is exhausted from the spool in unwinding, and means operated -by saidinovable -part and adapted to aetuate said arm to, cause the sock'eted end 'thereof to engage one of said-studs, \for.the^purpose y described. l

* JOSEPH S. DUNCAN.

Witnesses: 1 4

WM. O. BELT, M. A. Krimis.

G0 se( ired on the-spools,. a reciprocatory feed ba. and apair of dogs on said feed b ar to engage the ratchet wheels, and means for`l A- reversing the ratchet feeding operation, comy 

